Ketek, which is the brand-name for the generic drug Telithromycin, was marketed as an antibiotic to treat mild to moderate respiratory problems, including bronchitis and pneumonia. The drug gained approval from the Food and Drug Administration for sale in the United States in 2004. Although there were several side effects that resulted from using the drug, many were not severe. Those side effects included nausea, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal problems. However, the side effects turned deadly in early 2006, when several cases of severe liver problems as a result of taking Ketek were reported. One victim died, another contracted drug-induced hepatitis, and the third had to endure a liver transplant.

Later in 2006, it was revealed that Food and Drug Administration officials were considering the possibility that Ketek should never have been approved because of the safety concerns in both adults and children. It was also revealed that three more people had died from liver failure as a result of taking Ketek. Despite the concerns, Ketek is still on the market. In February of 2007, the Food and Drug Administration forced the manufacturer of Ketek to change the warnings on the label of the drug. The label now indicates that the drug should not be used in patients with myasthenia gravis. The label also has the “boxed warning,” which is a serious warning restricted for use in the most dangerous of drugs. The medication is also no longer to be used in cases of acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis or in cases of acute bacterial sinusitis.

If you or a family member has taken Ketek and had resulting liver problems, seek a doctor’s care in helping treat this serious problem. You should talk to your doctor about the likelihood that your liver disease or liver failure resulted from your ingestion of Ketek for your respiratory problems. If your doctor believes that your liver problems are linked to Ketek, or if you are concerned that this might be connected, you should consider contacting an attorney.

Before you contact an attorney, gather all of your medical records from the time prior to when you began taking Ketek. In order to evaluate your claim, your attorney will need to know what illnesses you had before, why you were prescribed Ketek, how long you took the medication, and the medical problems that you had after you started taking Ketek. It is only with all of this information before them that the attorney can give you a fair and honest recommendation of your likelihood of success with a lawsuit against the manufacturer of Ketek.

An attorney will be able to explain what types of damages you will be able to recover and what amount of money you may be able to obtain. Previous lawsuits against the manufacturer of Ketek have led to the recovery of damages for lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and even some wrongful death lawsuits have been filed. Thus, if you or a loved one has incurred liver problems or has died after taking Ketek, it is your right to recover the money that you paid.